Vacancy Announcement: Partnerships Officer (P2), Fixed Term, Kabul, Afghanistan #114920

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a fair chance

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

The Afghanistan Country Programme is one of UNICEF’s largest and most complex, and has expanded rapidly in recent times, with an annual budget in 2021 in excess of $400m. More than ten new multi-million dollar grants and proposals are negotiated every month, with over 100 reports required to the same donors every year. UNICEF is now scaling up its programmatic response in view of the recent deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, with further increased fundraising needs as a result.

The Partnerships Officer (P2) position is a new role located in Kabul in the Resource Mobilization team, which comprises a Partnerships Manager, a Partnerships Specialist, and UNV Resource Mobilization Officer. The team is responsible for supporting the Country Programme team in its overall resource mobilization efforts. This includes donor analysis and engagement, support to donor submissions (such as proposals, amendments and reports) as well as donor recognition, and ensuring effective and efficient resource mobilization systems, processes and approaches.

To learn more about working for UNICEF and our work in Afghanistan, please visit the following links:

Working for UNICEF: https://youtu.be/43aiG4w2q_M?t=2 

UNICEF in Afghanistan:  https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/ 

How can you make a difference?

The Partnerships Officer will assist in supporting the overall resource mobilization efforts of the Afghanistan office. Under the direction of the Partnerships Manager, the incumbent is responsible for supporting the development and enhancement of relations with donors, for high quality contribution management and for ensuring functioning and effective resource mobilization systems, processes and capacity are in place.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Support to funding strategies:

Contribute towards the preparation and implementation of resource mobilization strategies and work plans by researching and analyzing information and data.

2. Support donor engagement and analysis:

Maintain up-to-date information on donors, analyze development assistance policies and keep resource partner profiles updated; Compile and prepare briefing notes and other documents for engagement and information sharing purposes; support donor visit preparation and execution.

3. Timely, Quality Donor submissions:

Monitor and track donor proposal pipeline and donor reporting schedule. Collaborate with programme sections to prepare and provide timely, quality assurance of submissions to donors, including concept notes, funding proposals and donor reports, and support the review of donor agreements. Maintain and share information on all donor requirements and ensure adherence of donor submissions to such requirements.

4. Donor recognition plans and communications:

Support the development and implementation of programme sections’ donor recognition plans and communications, including capacity statements and investment cases, donor engagement briefs and development of the regular donor newsletter.

5. Fundraising and Resource Mobilization administration:

Administer, monitor and strive to improve resource mobilization and grant management systems, processes, and information in line with agreed standards. This includes but is not limited to resource mobilization performance, donor profile and contact information, donor submissions and pipeline, visibility and fundraising guidelines.

6. Training and capacity building in Resource Mobilization:

Provide training and technical assistance as required to staff and partners to improve the overall quality and consistency of concept notes, proposals, reports and other donor submissions.

7. Impact of results:

High quality and timely donor submissions and recognition, analysis and engagement, and effective resource mobilization systems will strengthen the credibility of the organization, increase trust, and lead to enhanced partnerships, as well as the generation of new opportunities with donors, and to a more sustainable increase in resources to support UNICEF’s work in Afghanistan.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields: Social Sciences, Public Administration, Donor Relations or another relevant technical field.
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of two years of relevant, professional work experience in donor relations, fundraising, or contribution management is required.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal English skills are an essential job requirement.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either: a role with direct contact with children, works directly with child, is a safeguarding response role or has been assessed as an elevated risk role for child safeguarding.

Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

The term “internal” refers to all personnel with an ongoing employment relationship with UNICEF, including staff members on a continuing, fixed term and temporary appointment, full-time individual contractors and consultants, and UNVs